Petr Cech takes sly dig at Manchester United after sending message to next Arsenal boss
Petr Cech believes Arsenal can challenge for the Premier League title next season but says the Gunners could become a hire and fire club like Manchester United now that Arsene Wenger has left.
The Frenchman managed the Gunners for the final time on Sunday when he brought the curtain down on his 22 years in north London with a 1-0 win against Huddersfield.
The Gunners want to appoint a new manager before the World Cup but are yet to decide between frontrunners Mikel Arteta and Massimiliano Allegri.
Arsenal will no doubt have taken notes from the difficulties Manchester United faced when Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down with the Red Devils enduring three miserable years under David Moyes and then Louis van Gaal.
However, Cech believes the squad does not need major surgery to compete for the league title next season and says the new manager should be given time…unlike at Old Trafford.
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Asked if the new manager could build a dynasty like Wenger, Cech replied: It will depend how well the club and manager will do.
If you are at the club where there is continuity then everybody gets used to it, but it is really rare.
You can see the example of Manchester United – Sir Alex Ferguson stopped and when Van Gaal came everyone thought it was going to be a long term coach, and he was not as successful as everybody expected and they made a change after two years.
Consistency in football is one of the hardest jobs, especially when you are a manager or coach. The new manager will find the club in a very healthy position and obviously he will need to succeed as well. That will determine how long the new manager or coach stays.
More: Manchester United FC
Arsenal finished the season in sixth and were closer to the relegation places than to champions Manchester City.
However, Cech believes the Gunners underperformed and says the new boss only needs to make small changes.
Are we far away from mounting a title challenge next season? I dont think so, said Cech.
When you see our home form we are up there. The difference between us and the others were away games. We had a terrible run of results away from home and that is what cost us this season
But I think the new manager, or new coach, will find a great setup with a very healthy club and a great support. The team didnt perform as well as it should but the potential of this team is much bigger than we showed, especially in the away games this season.
MORE: Unai Emery insists there is no offer from Arsenal
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